Wiser ways with water

From healthier natural environments to reduced pollution and lower carbon emissions, there are many benefits to cutting back on our water-use, explains Jack Wallington

- Jack Wallington

Water is the life-source of our gardens and while it may seem we're never in short supply, it's a limited and precious resource.

If your water is supplied on a meter you'll already have a personal incentive to reduce tap-water use because it will save you money. There are, however, bigger incentives for us all to be water-wise in the garden, because it reduces the strain on water reserves supplied from our natural environment.

Tap water comes from natural sources fed by rain: reservoirs and lakes topped up by rain and water run-off, streams and rivers, or else it's drawn directly from rivers or natural underground reserves.

These sources we rely upon have an impact on the natural environment in a number of ways. Reservoirs are often formed by drowning valleys, so the fewer we need built the better. And every time we use mains water, it takes a long journey down the line from natural environments like streams, rivers, and wetlands.

All mains tap water is also treated chemically to make it safe to drink, using energy and materials. This process costs money, passed on in our water bills. By using less tap water, we reduce chemicals released into the environment, energy used, and the cost to us all. On top of our personal use, many horticultural and landscape industries use large volumes of water to make products, from cutting stone for patios to producing glass for greenhouses.